The Problem
A homeowner in Ajax noticed water intrusion near a below grade bedroom window every time it rained heavily, despite the basement otherwise being dry. The affected bedroom, used by their teenage son, had developed a persistent damp patch on the carpet near the window that the homeowner had initially tried to address by simply placing towels down during storms, a workaround that had become a source of ongoing frustration for the whole household, particularly since it meant checking the weather forecast before leaving the house for the day became something of a habit.
Why It Happened
Our inspection found the existing metal window well had no drainage connection at its base, meaning it functioned as a small reservoir that eventually overflowed against the window during sustained rainfall. The well itself had also begun rusting along its lower edge, likely accelerated by years of standing water sitting against the metal with nowhere to drain, the same kind of prolonged exposure that often turns into a case for basement leak repair if left untreated, compounding the original design flaw with new deterioration.
We also noted the bedroom this window served had never actually met current egress requirements, since the original well was undersized for safe emergency exit, a detail the homeowner had not been aware of despite having lived in the home for several years. This meant the project would address not just the recurring leak but also a safety gap the family had unknowingly been living with the entire time.
Our Process
- Removed the deteriorated existing window well, confirming the rusted section had begun separating slightly from the foundation
- Measured the bedroom window and confirmed the code required dimensions for a properly sized egress window well
- Excavated to install a proper gravel drainage base connected to the home’s weeping tile system, giving the well a genuine path for water to escape
- Installed a new polyethylene window well sized to meet egress requirements for the bedroom it served, since a below grade bedroom of this kind must meet emergency exit standards
- Backfilled and adjusted grading around the well to direct surface water away from it rather than toward it
- Added a clear polycarbonate cover to reduce future debris accumulation and limit direct rainfall entering the well
- Confirmed with the homeowner that the new well’s dimensions and integrated steps met safe climb out access standards
Results
The recurring leak has not returned through two subsequent rainy seasons, and the new well also brought the bedroom’s egress compliance up to current code standards, an added benefit the homeowner had not initially been aware they needed. The towel routine has become a thing of the past, and the homeowner’s son has commented that he no longer notices any smell in his room during or after storms.
This project is a good example of how a relatively small, overlooked component like a window well can cause an outsized problem when its drainage is neglected. What had felt like an unsolvable, recurring annoyance to the family turned out to be a straightforward correction once the actual cause, rather than just the symptom, was properly diagnosed, and the family now also has genuine confidence that the bedroom meets the safety standard it always should have.
Related: Basement Leak Repair · Exterior Basement Waterproofing